Shirley K Schlafer Foundation
The Shirley K Schlafer Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. Its 2025 filing lists grants to Michigan organizations supporting research and women’s health, reproductive health care, children with serious health challenges, scholarships, and contemporary art and museum education.
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation at a glance
In short: Shirley K Schlafer Foundation gave $314K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $63K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $313,500
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -44.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $62,700
- +46.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $1,851,168
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Shirley K Schlafer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated on its 2023 IRS filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 727 Willits, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 375-7827
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Shirley K Schlafer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Michigan ($194K). Together the top 5 received $314K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 45 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Shirley K Schlafer Foundation gives
- Giving fell 82% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $314K (2025) to $1.9M (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $314K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Emerging Scholars and Women's Health Innovation Fund | $193,500 |
| North Star Reach Pinckney, MI | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Ann Arbor, MI | Charitable; Reproductive Health Care | $50,000 |
| Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills, MI | Charitable; Scholarships | $10,000 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Detroit, MI | Charitable; Museum Maintenance & Education | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,851,168 | $372,116 | $364,367 | $313,500 | 5 | $327,767 | $335,516 | $124,060 |
| 2024 | $1,843,419 | $233,081 | $437,871 | $386,150 | 9 | $400,387 | $195,597 | $133,252 |
| 2023 | $2,048,209 | $328,030 | $1,934,110 | $1,874,250 | 11 | $1,888,387 | $285,352 | $153,809 |
| 2022 | $3,654,289 | $838,960 | $1,855,699 | $1,753,500 | 13 | $1,767,552 | $783,866 | $242,370 |
| 2021 | $4,671,028 | $1,314,376 | $1,864,190 | $1,772,500 | 7 | — | $1,270,032 | $369,122 |
| 2020 | $5,220,842 | $274,916 | $1,570,724 | $1,475,250 | 10 | — | $227,202 | $377,891 |
| 2019 | $6,516,650 | $199,753 | $594,427 | $502,000 | 9 | — | $156,303 | $399,308 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shirley K Schlafer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $124K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. The University of Michigan, which received a grant for an Emerging Scholars and Women’s Health Innovation Fund, describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians. North Star Reach, a recipient of a charitable grant, says it provides life-changing camp experiences for children with serious health challenges through residential camps and ongoing virtual programming. The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, also a recipient, describes its mission as presenting art at the forefront of contemporary culture. Other listed grant purposes include reproductive health care and scholarships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported five grants totaling $313,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $193,500, with a median of $50,000. The largest grants were $193,500 to the University of Michigan for the Emerging Scholars and Women’s Health Innovation Fund, $50,000 to North Star Reach for charitable purposes, and $50,000 to Planned Parenthood in Ann Arbor for charitable purposes and reproductive health care. The remaining grants were $10,000 to Cranbrook Schools for charitable purposes and scholarships, and $10,000 to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit for charitable purposes, museum maintenance, and education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Edith S Briskin as chairman and treasurer.
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation is led by Edith S. Briskin, Chairman & Treasurer on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edith S. Briskin
Chairman & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$14K (2019) → $14K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to Edith S Briskin (Chairman/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Shirley K Schlafer Foundation
How much does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation give each year?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation gave $314K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $386K across 9 grants.
What is Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's typical grant size?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $62,700, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation give grants?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants).
Does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's largest grantees?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Michigan ($193,500), North Star Reach ($50,000) and Planned Parenthood ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Shirley K Schlafer Foundation?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $328K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $124K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Shirley K Schlafer Foundation?
The foundation stated on its 2023 IRS filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's EIN?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2637259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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